AFP
US President Donald Trump on Monday denied Iran's claim that it dismantled a CIA spy ring and arrested 17 suspects with alleged links to the US intelligence agency.
"The report of Iran capturing CIA spies is totally false. Zero truth," Trump tweeted.
"Just more lies and propaganda (like their shot down drone) put out by a Religious Regime that is Badly Failing and has no idea what to do."
"Their Economy is dead, and will get much worse. Iran is a total mess!" Trump added.
The CIA had no immediate comment, and usually refuses to comment on reports of its covert agents and informants falling under arrest or being killed in the field.
Trump's denial was extraordinary in that sense, and drew criticism from the intelligence community.
